Category: Ministry empowerment

Leaders should not be selected based on outward appearance (1 Sam 16:7 NIV)  But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Samuel wanted to choose the next leader of Israel based on outward appearance. God, however, chooses leaders based on their heart. Leaders must first of all seek after God’s heart. 1 Samuel 13:14 (NIV) But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord's command." 1 Timothy 3:2­5 (NIV) Now the overseer…

Making of a Leader Accept God’s preparation during your humble beginnings (1 Sam 17:34-37 NIV)  But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, {35} I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. {36} Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. {37} The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."…

Why conflicts arise Individual differences The church is a collection of all sorts of people from varying backgrounds and with different personalities. It is inevitable that such an aggregate of folks will experience conflicts. But the Scriptures can help us deal with these difficult situations. We must “speak the same thing” in matters of doctrine (1 Cor. 1:10; cf. 2 Jn. 9-10), but there must be latitude in other areas. Different stages of spiritual development, personality differences, and misunderstandings – all of these things can contribute to tension. Comedian Emo Philips used to tell this story: In conversation with a person I had recently met, I asked, "Are you Protestant or Catholic?" My new acquaintance replied, "Protestant." I said, "Me too! What franchise?" He answered, "Baptist." "Me too!" I said.…

We are to submit to those in authority Why we need to submit to human authority The Bible tells us to (1 Pet 2:13-14 NIV)  Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, {14} or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. Rebelling against human authority is rebelling against God (Rom 13:1-2 NIV)  Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. {2} Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on…

Ministry is ultimately about saving souls (Luke 4:18 NIV)  "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, This was how Jesus summarized His ministry. It is about saving souls. Our ministry focus should be no different from our Lord Jesus. (1 Tim 2:3-4 NIV)  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, {4} who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Ministry is servanthood (Phil 2:5-7 NIV)  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: {6} Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality…